About This Career

Directs activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

This career is part of the Government and Public Administration cluster Governance pathway.

A person in this career:

• Interviews persons present at death scenes to obtain information useful in determining the manner of death.
• Completes or reviews death certificates, including the assignment of cause and manner of death.
• Performs medicolegal examinations and autopsies, conducting preliminary examinations of the body to identify victims, locate signs of trauma, and identify factors that would indicate time of death.
• Observes and records the positions and conditions of bodies and related evidence at the scene, through documentation or photographs.
• Removes or supervises removal of bodies from death scenes, using the proper equipment and supplies, and arranges for transportation to morgues.
• Provides information concerning the circumstances of death to relatives of the deceased.
• Inquires into the cause, manner, and circumstances of human deaths and establishes the identities of deceased persons.
• Completes reports and forms required to finalize cases.
• Observes, records, and preserves any objects or personal property related to deaths, including objects such as medication containers and suicide notes.
• Arranges for the next of kin to be notified of deaths.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Exposed to hazardous situations involving possible injury such as cuts, bites, stings, and minor burns more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work